Paint can closure means



y 1959 R. J. DONOGHUE v 2,885,108

PAINT CAN CLOSURE MEANS Filed Oct. 25, 1957 FIG. I

z a I E; 1

Fi .2 & 42 30 2a 1 T 24 AZ J g 32 34;

n! ii i IE i F'|C5-5 INVENTOR ROBERT J DONOGl-ILJE fd An a United t sPat PAINT CAN CLOSURE MEANS Robert J. Donoghue, Windsor, Conn.

v Application October 25, 1957, Serial No. 692,361- 3 Claims. Cl. 220-427 V This invention relates to improvements in paint cans and the likeand particularly to improved closures for same.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved container andclosure for paint with which excess paint may be removed from the paintbrush by drawing the brush across the container rim without the paintrunning over onto the container exterior.

More particularly it is an object of this invention to teach a paint canconstruction which includes a channelshaped ring within the paint canhaving paint drain holes which drain into the can, and a ring gaskethaving lugs which project through the drain holes for sealing purposeswhen the gasket is compressed between the channel ring and a cooperatingannular projection on the paint can cover, thereby providing an airtightclosure.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the specification andclaims, and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate anembodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an external showing of a paint can utilizing my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing throughmy closure means.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a paint can shown in Fig. 2, drawn on asomewhat smaller scale, utilizing my closure means with the cover unitand gasket removed to illustrate the paint drain holes.

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3showing my paint can with the cover unit and gasket removed, and with apaint brush depicted as being drawn across the inner lip so that excesspaint either drops back into the can directly or drains back into thecan through the paint drain holes in the channel ring;

Fig. 5 is a top fragmentary view of my closure gasket illustrating thesealing lug plurality; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary schematic view showing a preferred shape of thegasket lug.

Fig. 1 shows a typical paint can 10 which is a cylindrical form andcomprises a hollow cylindrical portion 12 which projects upwardly fromand is attached to a circular base 14. Handle 16 is pivotally attachedto diametrically opposed sides of the cylindrical side wall portion 12through journal connections 18. Hollow portion 12 is open at its upperend 20 and receives a circular cover 22 (Fig. 2) to form a completelyenclosed paint container.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the container 10 includes atop rim portion 24 which is secured to the open upper end of the hollowportion 12 of the can 10. The rim 24 comprises an upwardly openingchannelshaped ring 26 which may be described as of substantiallyU-shaped cross-section and which extends around the full circumferenceor periphery of the can. A rounded lip 30 projects inwardly from andaround the inner periphery of the channel ring 26 and provides an edgeacross which the paint brush bristles B may be drawn, as shown in Fig.4, to remove excess paint therefrom.

'ice

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a plurality of paint drain holes or slots32 are provided in the lower extremity 34 of channel ring 26. Thesepaint drain holes 32 permit excess paint which has been accumulated inthe channel ring 26 by the drawing of the paint brush bristles B acrossrolled lip 30 to drain back into the hollow section 12 of the paint can10.

Preferably a removable resilient gasket 36 fits into the lower extremity34 of the channel ring 26. The gasket ring 36 carries a plurality oflugs 38 which are downwardly tapering. and spaced to project downwardlythrough the paint drain slots 32, as shown in Fig. 2, and to contact theslots 32 in fluid sealing engagement.

The gasket 36 preferably is formed of resilient material such as rubber,polyethylene, Teflon, nylon or the like, and with the cover 22 seals thecontainer 10.

The removable circular cover member 22 includes a downwardly projectingannular ring 40 of substantially U-shaped cross-section. The ring 40 isso shaped as to be received in cooperating surface-to-surface sealingengagement in the groove 26 so that its lower extremity 42 cooperatesthroughout its full periphery with the lower portion 34 of the channelring 26 to compress the gasket 36 therebetween and form an air tightclosure for the paint can 10 when the channel ring 40 of the cover 22 ispressed firmly into the channel ring 26.

The gasket 36 provides a tight seal which prevents air leakage into thecan 10 and the formation of scum on the paint in the can and alsoprevents the formation of paint film across the openings 32.

The gasket 36 is removable from the groove 26 after the cover 22 and maybe readily replaced when the can is to be rescaled.

It will be understood that the particular construction described isadaptable to containers other than paint cans.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention has been illustratedand described herein, it will be apparent that various changes andmodifications may be made in the configuration and arrangement of thecomponent parts without departing from the scope thereof.

What I desire by Letters Patent is:

1. A fluid container of the paint can type comprising a hollowcylindrical portion open at its upper end, an upwardly opening ring ofsubstantially U-shaped cross-section extending around the periphery ofand projecting inwardly from said upper end of said hollow cylindricalportion and having at least one drain orifice in the lower extremitythereof, a resilient ring gasket engaging the entire lower extremity ofsaid U-shaped ring and having a downwardly projecting lug extendingthrough and engaging said orifice in fluid sealing relation, and acircular cover member having an upwardly opening ring of substantiallyU-shaped cross-section extending around the periphery thereof andprojecting outwardly therefrom and shaped to be received in and snuglyengage said hollow cylindrical portion U-shaped ring in sealingengagement such that said ring gasket is compressed between the lowerextremity of said U-shaped rings.

2. A fluid container of the paint can type comprising a hollowcylindrical portion open at its upper end, and upwardly opening channelshaped ring of substantially U-shaped cross-section extending around theperiphery of and projecting inwardly from said upper end of said hollowcylindrical portion and having a plurality of fluid drain slots in thelower extremity of said channel, a resilient ring gasket engaging theentire lower extremity of said channel and having a plurality ofdownwardly projecting and tapering lugs each extending through andtightly engaging one of said slots in fluid sealing relation, and acircular cover member having an upwardly opening channel shaped ringextending around the periphery thereof an aun and projecting outwardlytherefrom and shaped to received in :and snugly engage said hollowportion channel ringin sealing engagement such that said ring gasket iscompresed between said channel rings throughout their lowerextremities.j

3. A fluid container closure unit comprising a firstupwardly openingchannel shaped ring extending around the periphery offend projectinginwardly from and attached to the open top of the container having apluralityof fluid drain slots in thechannel lower extremity and having adownwardly directed roll lip around the inner periphery thereof, aremovable resilient, flat ring gasket engaging the entire lowerextremity of said channel ring and having at least one downwardlyprojecting and tapering lug extending through and tightly engaging oneof said slotsm mun simmers in fluid sealing relation, and a circularcover member having a second upwardly opening channel shaped ringextending around the periphery thereof and projecting outwardlytherefrom and shaped to be received in and snugly engage said firstchannel shaped ring in sealing engagement such that said ring gasket iscompressed between said channel shaped rings throughout their lowerextremities.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

